Corrugated Packaging Highlights from drupa

One of the surprising themes of drupa 2016 has been the emergence of digital printing for corrugated packaging. Though this market has lagged behind other packaging segments in adopting digital, it appears suppliers are seeing a demand for corrugated to take on the short run capabilities, variability and flexibility that digital has provided elsewhere. Here are a few highlights from the second full day at drupa.

EFI Unveils Nozomi

The sheer size of this inkjet behemoth has to be seen to be believed, and the EFI Nozomi C18000 was garnering a lot of attention in EFI's booth. The Nozomi touts its single-pass LED technology and high speed capabilities among its advantages. The Nozomi, which shares its name with one of the fastest trains in Japan, can reach speeds of up to 246 linear feet per minute. Nozomi prints direct-to-board.

HP Fills the Gap

The HP PageWide C500 press offers a digital direct print solution for corrugated.

A stop at the HP booth shed some further light on the new HP PageWide C500 press, the new direct-to-board solution from HP. The corrugated print market has several subsegments that HP had already entered, such as short run displays and preprint. Until drupa, the HP lineup had been missing a direct print solution, and it appears the C500 will fill that gap.

Screen's Corrugated Collaboration

During its press conference, Screen announced a partnership with BHS Corrugated to develop the BHS Corrugated Inline Digital Printing Solution. The solution can be implemented directly into corrugated box manufacturing facilities, creating a roll to printed sheet process. The solution, which can be integrated into new BHS corrugators or installed onto existing systems, is expected to improve turnaround times, as printing will be integrated inline with the corrugator.

Durst's Single-Pass Solution

The Durst Rho 130 SPC on display at drupa.

Durst has become a well-known entity in the digital label printing world with the success of its Tau 330, but with its new Rho 130 SPC, has also entered the corrugated sector. The Rho 130 SPC, which was up and running at Durst's drupa booth, is a single-pass inkjet solution, capable of reaching speeds of 9,350 sq. m./hr. The press is geared toward small and medium runs, and provides the customization and variable elements of digital technology.

It's interesting to see so many suppliers jumping head on into corrugated. Unlike the label market, where digital has become a highly viable process, corrugated has remained largely conventionally printed. As the technology develops and enters production sites, it will be interesting to see how brands are able to leverage digital in corrugated packaging. But more importantly, the customization and personalization that digital provides will need to resonate with corrugated consumers.